Sharp County record., 1887-07-14
ruE PRESIDENTS LETTERS

ro-maIIv Declining the Invitations 20 ssle
StIouis During the National Ehc1r
1nant Of the Grand Army OF the hSPuDi-'
and presenting His Reasons Tor so Doins'
G. rorrz. July The question OF tne
occidental visit during the Grand ARMY
q, n, nr7eut next fall has been dennIIsJ
-a+4Isd The President will not De mere
1rI,5- ,-,-nirg Mavor Francis, as cnalr-
man Of the special committees @ppotH -
- .,a General executive committee OF Iue
c-and ARMY Eucampmeut recelved lsE
a.. F.or, the Executive Mansion signed Oy
President Cleveland, declining the NV
ta+ion sent 10 him in February last oy
that special committee. Al Ine Sd l',", -
the MAYOR. as chairman OF the ci-%ou'
committee, which organized tne Pogutat
n1ovsnent. and Of the delegation wnlcn
bore the popular invitation 70 ASH
irgton. received letter from tne
ss1t withdrawiug his acceptance Oh Tue
invitation. and stating at greater lensUh
The reasous WHY he will not be mere
dr-ing the eucampment These letters
were mailed at II p. m, the nlgnI ol 'uIj
4 and were delivered at the mayor oI-
Hfa this morning. The first IS as 1ollo"s'
EXECUTIVE MANSION
W4sHISGroS. July I, 1887.
n, garid r. Francs. Mayor Of the LRy 0 ~
To,6,. Frank G1tsaais, President Of tas HsT-
-5,nt,, Ezre5ru1s. and John ". NO0tS' com
,11nds, Frquk p. Blair Post N0. 1. 6. 4 H.
Committee.
GENTLEMEN: While have hitherto made no
,orrral response TO your invitation gwen IN
Febrr1ary last 10 myself and Mrs. CleVeianu 70
attend the National Encampment OF me Gfdnt
Arnv of the Republic. TO be held IN 81 LOUIS
,-or, the 9TH 10 the 10th Of September next l
have verbally indicated my purpose 70 accep.
II ifT should ind it possible then 70 De aosenI
from Washington. ,- -.
The statement contained in your letter tna1
the organization was never in so nouflshlnB
condition as now nor its membership so large,
that no effort had been spared by the citlZens Oh
Sr louis 70 insure a welcome or unusual
| warmth at this the first encampmenL OF lhaS
body ever held in a Southern State, and your
suggestion that no compliment more nItlng
| could be bestowed upon the valiant defenders OF
A acounmon country by the Chief Executive OF
restored Union, and none would be more nignIy
apureciated than that conferred By MS presence
| AZ such time and place enlisted my leeIhg
and interest ,-,...
| More recently indications have been disclosed
that, however correctly you expressed lhe pre-
vaiIing sentiment in the Grand Army tnere are
members and some posts Of that body enter
tsining different feelings in respect TO my ac-
| ceutance. and that my acceptance Of your Invi-
tation would lead to discord in the organization,
| as we'll as an interruption Of cordisLty at the
| coming encampment
Without entering into discussion OF these
opiuions and unmoved by any feeling, although
| I deeply regret the condition, can but regard
| IL nv duty 10 refrain from contributing by my
action TO so undesirable result.
Nothing can be Of greater Importance in con-
| uection with the eucampment than the free and
| unrestrafned manifestation BY its participants
Of that patriotic fraternity Of feeling suggested
| BY the selection Of the place Of holding it and
| which is at once the proof Of the complete sue
cess OF their arms and the highest glory OF our
| veteran soldiers.
| am constrained therefore 20 withhold my
! purposed acceptance Of your invitation. In
| doing so assure you Of my unfetgned hope and
sincere wish that IN the agreeable entertain
| rent prepared for them BY the hospttsble peo-
| ple OF St. Louis the veterans Of the Grand Army
| NAV enjoy the most pleasant profitable and
useful reunion in their history.
Very truly yours,
| GROVER CLEVELAND.
| TIE SECOND LETTER,
in which the President withdraws his sc-
ceptance Of the popular invitation, is as
| follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WAsHINGTON, July, 4, 1sS7. q
| Hon DGgid r. Francis, Mayor and Chairman:
| MY DEAR SIR-When received the ex-
tremely cordial and gratifying invitation from
/ the citizens Of ST. Louis, rendered by num-
Der Of her representative men, TO visit that
| city during the National Encampment Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic, ] had been con-
| templating for some time the acceptance OF an
| invitation from that organization TO the same
effect, and had considered the pleasure which it
| would afford me, If it should be possible, TO
meet not only members Of the Grand Army,
| but the people Of st. Louis and other cities IN
| the West, which the occasion would give me an
| opportunity TO visit. The exactions OF my
| public duties ! felt TO be so uncertain, how
ever. that, when first confronted by the dele
| CATION Of which you were the head, lex
| pected to do no more at that time than
| TO promise the consideration Of the
| double invitation rendered me, and
| express the pleasure it would give me to
accept the same thereafter, il possible. But
| the cordiality and sincerity II your presenta-
ton. reinforced by the heartiuess Of the people
who surrounded you, so impressed me that
| could not resist the feeling which prompted
| me to assure you on the spot that I would be
| with you and the Grand Army Of the Republic
| at the time designated, II nothing happened in
the meantime TO absolutely prevent my leaV-
| ing Washington
Immediately upon the public announcement
| Of this conclusion, expressions emanatlng
| from certain important members OF the Grand
Army Of the Republic, and increasing in
| volume and virulence. constrained me TO re-
view my acceptance Of these invitations. The
expressions referred 10 go to the extent Of de-
claring that would be an unwelcome guest at
the time and place OF the National Encamp-
| ment. This statement is based, as well as
can Judge upon certain official acts of mine,
involving important public interests,
done under the restraints and
obligations Of my oath Of office, which
do not appear TO accord with the wishes
Of some members Of the Grand Army OF the
Republic. refuse to believe that this organ
ization, founded upon patriotic ideas, COM
posed very largely of men entitled to lasting
honor and consideration, and whose crowning
glory it should be that they are American
citizens as well as veteran soldiers, deems
it part OF its mission TO compass any
object or purpose by attempting to intimi-
date the Executive or coerce those charged
with making and executing the laws. And yet
the expressions TO which have referred indi-
cate such prevalence OF unfriendly feeling
and such menace TO an occasion which should
be harmonious, peaceful and cordial, that they
can not be ignored | beg you to understand